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Tag Archives: MEGA YDC

As a relatively new blogger, I am just beginning to become exposed to the incredible talent we have in the local fashion scene. I was happy to attend the unveiling of MEGA’s Class of Champions exhibit at the Podium as it gave me the chance to come face-to-face with the creations of Furne One, Veejay Floresca, Mara Chua and other alumni of the MEGA Young Designers Competition.

I happily gave in to the sensory overload that any fashion-lover would experience when presented with a buffet of stunning pieces, heavily featuring MEGA’s first Young Designer of the Year winner, Furne One, and his explosive Mata Hari collection.

Beautiful gown by Furne One. Note the close-up of the detail on the right side.

The items borrowed from his 31-piece collection showcased structured silhouettes, with the gowns looking (and moving) like golden armor yet exuding a sense of regal elegance in stillness. While elaborate and larger-than-life, small details such as the placement of gold spikes and intricate beadwork are always at the forefront.

From a bird’s-eye view, you can make out strong silhouettes and rich textures. Despite the tough overtones, the pieces retain a sense of fluidity. I wish I could have seen them move, the garments must have looked like liquid gold.

I also wanted to share this close-up detail shot of the spirals on the side of Patrice Ramos-Diaz’s glorious structural creation. The gown is so deceptively simple, especially in the bodice, but your eyes are immediately drawn to the spiral pattern towards the side.

Patrice Ramos-Diaz’s hypnotic creation. I could stare at that skirt for hours.

I’m also proud to admit that I love anything unabashedly romantic and ethereal, so I had to stop and admire this textured dove-grey/off-white gown by Mara Chua. Mara’s work is cerebral and there is always a distinct concept behind her art. I’m a huge fan of her body of work, which often hints at the darker, more eccentric side of fashion.

Mara Chua’s work. I can’t wait to see more from her.

I also chatted with new MEGA YDC alumni Oz Go and winner Renan Pacson about fashion’s balance between high-concept experimentation and day-to-day style. While I love theatrical runway shows, it can be challenging to translate experimental pieces to real-life street/office attire. If one is willing to try bolder looks, Renan suggests investing in only one experimental piece paired with basic items in your closets. Statement jackets with embellishments or strong shoulders are great paired with dark jeans and a plain top; if you are uncomfortable then simply take the jacket off. Oz stressed that comfort is key and that how you feel about what you are wearing is the most important criteria in choosing your outfit for the day.

With Renan Pacson (L) and Oz Go (R).

P.S. The dress code was “cocktail-chic”, so I proudly repeated this dress, also worn to a company event in 2011, pictured below. I styled it differently at the time, with very minimal make-up and a simple ponytail. A dress like this gray one-shouldered number with a floral detail is great for when you want more coverage for a dressier occasion, like an awards dinner with colleagues or the opening of a fashion/art exhibit.

With colleagues from my previous job at a special event in January 2011. Same dress, but styled differently.

*This is not a sponsored post; all the photos and content belong to Rinse, Wear, Repeat.